The Phonics Blog
Practical phonics articles for parents and teachers. Research-backed methods, age-by-age guides, free printables, and tried-at-home tips. 93 articles and counting.
Understanding Your Child's Phonics Screening Check Results Letter
A line-by-line explanation of the letter schools send home, including what 'working towards' actually means for next steps.
6 min read
Phonics Screening Check Resit in Year 2: What to Expect
What changes (and what doesn't) when a child resits in Year 2, and how to prepare differently the second time.
6 min read
Hard G and Soft G: When G Says /j/
The same e-i-y rule as C, but leakier — get, give, girl all break it. Word lists, common exceptions, and how to teach both without confusion.
6 min read
Hard C and Soft C: The Simple Rule (with 100+ Words)
One rule covers almost every C in English: soft /s/ before e, i, y; hard /k/ elsewhere. Word lists, rare exceptions, and a mnemonic that sticks.
6 min read
Auditory Processing Disorder and Phonics: What Parents Need to Know
Why APD is often mistaken for a phonics-teaching problem, and which adaptations actually help.
7 min readThe 6 Syllable Types: Closed, Open, Magic-E, Vowel Team, R-Controlled, C+le
The complete guide to all 6 syllable types with word examples, syllable division rules, and a teaching order — the toolkit for decoding multi-syllable words.
9 min readOnset and Rime: The Pre-Phonics Skill That Doubles Decoding Speed
Onset (the opening consonant sound) and rime (the vowel + everything after) bridge rhyming and full phoneme decoding. Why it matters and 6 activities to build it.
6 min read
Silent Letters List: kn, wr, gh, mb — Why English Keeps Them
Every common silent-letter pattern grouped and explained, why English kept them, and how to teach them without confusing a child new to phonics.
7 min read10 English Spelling Rules Every Phonics Student Needs
The doubling rule, drop-the-e, Y-to-I, soft C, FLOSS, CK — 10 core spelling rules that cover 96% of English words, taught in curriculum order with worked examples.
9 min read
Reading Age vs Actual Age: What the Gap Really Means
How schools calculate reading age, and which size of gap is normal noise vs a signal worth acting on.
6 min read20 Vowel Sounds Chart (Free PDF) with Examples
Every English vowel sound mapped to its common spellings — short vowels, long vowels, r-controlled, and diphthongs — with example words and a teaching order guide.
8 min read
Phonics Intervention at Home: A Simple 4-Week Catch-Up Plan
A structured 4-week plan for closing a specific skill gap at home before deciding whether outside tutoring is needed.
8 min read
Teach phonics online — one short lesson a day
Sign in free and follow a plan that remembers where you are. Right here in your browser, on phone, tablet or computer — nothing to download.
- 92 step-by-step lessons, SATPIN first
- Big flashcards to show your child
- Games, checkpoints and progress for every sound
For little ones (2–6) there’s also our sound-play game on iPhone & iPad and Android.